‘I’m not based anywhere,’ he said. ‘That was part of the deal. I go where needed and camp out where I want and take on new clients so long as there’s no conflict.’
‘A true digital nomad.’
‘I like how that sounds.’
‘I should go,’ she said. ‘It’s late here, too. I have a coffee date in the morning.’
‘Oh, yeah?’
‘Yeah,’ she said. ‘The world keeps spinning even though you and I are no longer dance partners.’
‘I like how that sounds, too.’
‘Maybe we could keep in touch, share info, be partners in tech.’
‘Be friends?’ he suggested.
‘I’d like that,’ she said. ‘Love you, Ro. Safe travels.’
‘Love you, T. Goodnight.’
Roman clutched his phone to his chest. Outside the wide windows, the views were blurred from a wash of silent, steady rain. The night was a blur anyway. He tried to picture Samantha on that fateful flight. She must have been out of sorts, dropping her passport and all her things like that. But … she’d kept his stupid note. She hadn’t ripped it to confetti or flushed it down the toilet. Instead, she’d kept it with her important papers. That was valuable information worth acting on.
Roman tapped on the phone’s search engine and entered her name. She lived in Manchester, that much he knew. Yet there was so much he didn’t know about her. This brief layover in England was especially triggering. He was on her turf and saw her everywhere, heard her laugh over the steady drum of mundane airport conversation. He wondered how she dressed for the cooler climate, how she took her tea, what her routines were, which pubs she preferred and how she liked her beer. More than that, he wanted to know how she was doing. Was she OK? Sleeping OK? Eating OK? Getting back into her routines OK? Did she regret as he did, increasingly with each passing day, the chance they’d squandered? He’d never known happiness like that – easy, uncomplicated happiness. No matter where he was or with whom, a part of him wished he was back in the little house in Tobago with her.
He got his answers in a most unexpected way. He’d been offline for a little bit and, apparently, had missed a whole lot.
RESULTS FOR SAMANTHA ROBERTS: TRENDING NOW
A new candid blog touches a chord with readers. An excerpt.
THE HIDDEN PATH by SAMANTHA ROBERTS
POST #1: LOST?
Somehow I’ve veered off the path to happiness. I’ve retraced my steps, checked my inner compass, asked the universe for direction, and nothing. I’m lost and, frankly, confused. What frustrates me most is that I was doing so well. For once I was on the right track, reconnecting with all the things that bring me joy. And then I met someone. It wasn’t perfect, nothing is. The timing was off. The setting could make any girl believe in dreams and fairy tales. Yet deep inside, I knew it was right. It felt right. Quite unexpectedly, everything changed. I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere because now I’m lost. Has this ever happened to you? How do you find your way back?
COMMENTS (1,034):
@Cora579: Same, girl. Same.
@_LeslieLeo: I feel lost ALL THE TIME
@FUN&FASHION: It’s the worst feeling. Sending you love.
@Iheartbooksandcandy: Ugh! The worst!
@BFFFFFF_: You got this! Stay focused on you!
Samantha had finally posted her blog … and it was a hit.
Roman read and reread the one and only blog entry posted to the site. Too wired to sit still, too petrified to move, he set the phone down and stared out the window and the black glossy night stared back.
Sam was lost, and so was he. Worst of all, he’d made her feel that way.
If they could talk one last time, maybe together they could find their way. Calling or texting wouldn’t work. He’d left her a note and sent her a message through Naomi and heard nothing back. He had to take action.
Before he knew what he was doing, Roman reached for his phone and typed a text message.